Understanding Drone Swarm Systems: How They Work and Their Applications

A small aircraft operated either autonomously or via remote control is known as a UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) or drone. A large number of drones flying in a coordinated manner is known as a drone swarm.

This page describes the basics of a Drone Swarm system and explains how it works. There are numerous applications for drone swarm systems, including:

• Stage entertainment
• Hobbyist war games
• Search and rescue
• Spot spraying
• Animal herding
• Providing Wi-Fi coverage
• National security
• Delivery of goods
• Space exploration

What is Drone Swarm?

As mentioned earlier, a drone swarm refers to multiple drones flying together, much like a flock of birds, to perform coordinated tasks. The drone swarm system can be remotely controlled or self-controlled, based on automation algorithms developed during their creation. A single operator on the ground can control hundreds of drones which can fly hundreds of kilometers.

These drones often have the capability to carry payloads of around 1 Kg each, and can spend approximately an hour on a target mission.

We have observed many organisms moving collectively without losing direction or colliding with obstacles or each other. This common natural flocking phenomenon has been observed in birds, fish, insects, etc. This same flocking behavior has inspired the development of drone swarm systems.

The figure below shows an image of a micro drone swarm released from an aircraft by the US military.

Such drone systems are being utilized to target enemy locations and for surveillance by defense forces. Military drone swarm systems may include drones equipped with anti-radiation and anti-jamming weapons, and can potentially block hypersonic missiles. These swarm systems can also be equipped with chemical, radiological, biological, and nuclear detectors to provide security to the nation.

How Drone Swarm System Works

Image Courtesy: ResearchGate

There are two main types of drone swarm systems: manual and automatic. Manual systems require monitoring and control of the drones using either a control center or a remote controller. Automatic systems, on the other hand, allow the drones to adapt themselves based on pre-designed complex algorithms.

The figure above depicts the two major parts of a manual drone swarm system: the drone swarm in the air and the control center on the ground. Real-time communication between the drones and the control center is essential. This communication can be achieved through speech or text.

In an automatic system, each drone is programmed to follow a specific flight path. One of the underlying assumptions in this system is that all drones in the flock fly in the same general direction and maintain the same average position. In such a system, drones can self-organize based on the designed algorithm and communication from other drones. Through communication during flight, they can respond to changing conditions automatically, exhibiting flocking behavior similar to birds or insects.

Latest technologies such as AI (Artificial Intelligence), Big Data, and IoT (Internet of Things) are instrumental in enabling drone swarm systems to perform effectively and efficiently. Drone swarm technology is being extensively explored by various countries, including China, India, and the USA, across various sectors for the betterment of mankind.

Refer to the advantages (i.e., benefits) and disadvantages (i.e., drawbacks) of Drone Swarm Systems for more information.

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